We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Buonantony and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New Jersey about 45 minutes from the city. We went into the city often during my youth to see Broadway plays, attend sporting events and enjoy the culture of the city while still having the peace of suburban life. The town I grew up in was pretty diverse. I think growing up around so many different people gave me a real interest in their stories and the art of storytelling. I also think the energy of New York City was something I really took to. I knew at a young age I wanted to be a story teller and live near a big city. I loved the New York area but always had my eyes set on Hollywood.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started the entertainment website, PressPassLA.com in 2011 to get #GetWhatMatters in Hollywood to our readers. At the time, all of the entertainment sites were covering the same celebrity news with the same tired angles. I believed there was more to everyone’s story than their latest project or who they were dating! I wanted to get to the heart of what mattered, what made each person who they are. Our coverage became about aspirational success stories, local content creators to watch, and philanthropic causes in Los Angeles. To this day, going on ten years, we cover celebrity news, charity & red carpet events, rising talent and local happenings, gossip free! About three years ago, I opened the agency division of our company, PPLA Social + PR. At the agency we rep a diverse group of clients for traditional media and digital media opportunities. Our clients tend to fall in the following categories which are all vital industries to Los Angeles: Health & Wellness, Technology & Science, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Real Estate & Home Design, Finance and Politics. We have a very diverse team and are majority female-led.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough one because Los Angeles has so much to offer. For outdoors, we’d definitely hike Runyon Canyon, walk around the Hollywood Reservoir and check out the Griffith Park Observatory. I’d take them for a scenic drive up Mulholland and cut across through all the great tourist spots of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the Bel Air mansions, and through the gorgeous UCLA campus. It wouldn’t be Cali without the beaches so we’d have to spend a day exploring the coastline from Malibu down to Hermosa Beach with a shopping /lunch stop at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. In terms of spots that are closet to by heart, we’d grab brunch at Marmalade Cafe at the Farmer’s Market/The Grove because I waitressed and supported myself in LA through that job for years! We’d also hit my favorite Italian spot on Sunset, Vivoli Cafe, and check out a comedy show at The World Famous Comedy Store, where you can also catch me perform from time to time!Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my family and friends but particularly my parents. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

Website: https://www.presspassla.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_buonantony/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbuonantony/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/presspassla

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PressPassLosAngeles

Other: Agency pages: https://pplasocial.com/ https://twitter.com/PplaSocial https://www.facebook.com/pplasocial

Image Credits
Courtesy of Press Pass LA

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